Bar End Weights Reduce Vibrations?

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by OCLandspeeder, Aug 15, 2018.

  1. OCLandspeeder

    OCLandspeeder New Member

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    I've always wondered if those bar end weights do reduce vibrations. I went online to see what the collective had to say and some folks say they do while others say they hardly made a difference. Well I decided to find out for myself.

    I recently replaced the handlebar grips on my 2007 6th Gen because the OEM ones were getting faded and worn out from over 50k miles and 11 years of use. The grips I used where by Pro Grip dual density for sport bikes. So these weren't overly thick. At least they don't feel much different from the OEM (but look better).

    After installing the new grips I rode the bike around without bar end weights. Wow! I could feel a high frequency vibe when the bike goes to VTEC really well. The vibes were quite pronounced. I then put the Honda OEM bar end weights on and the vibes were reduced to a degree. But not as much as I thought and I was beginning to believe the naysayers. Until I decided to experiment and install a set of Rhino Bar Ends that weigh about 12 ounces, which Rhino says reduces vibes due to additional weight, although it wasn't a lot more than stock. Damn! Wow! It made a difference! It's like my VFR800 suddenly got a finely honed tune up. There are still vibes at VTEC mode but I'm guessing it reduced it by quite a noticeable margin.

    Rhino Bar end weights for Honda:
    https://www.rhinomoto.com/https:/www.rhinomoto.com/honda-barend-sliders/
    [​IMG]

    If these improved felt vibrations, then heavier ones should make even more of a noticeable difference. So I started looking around. There are tons of Chinese made stuff out there for cheap. Then I found these:
    http://www.hvmp.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=HONDA-BAR-ENDS

    They come in heavy or extra-heavy, silver or black. Made in the USA of full stainless steel. They also have a Facebook page. These are designed specifically to REDUCE vibes and not just to look good.

    Neither the Rhino bar ends nor the Hudson Valley Motorsports products are cheap. The Rhino's are about $60, while the HVM's are about $80. I'm thinking a good set of grips plus these heavy bar ends will definitely smooth out most of the felt vibrations on the VFR. It did with mine so I'm now a believer!
     
  2. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

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    And on the other hand...when the bar end on my Suzuki RF900R fell off, I did not realise it until I got home 3 hours later and saw it missing, so it clearly made no difference on that bike. After a decent ride I could tap the ends of my fingers and my hand felt like a tuning fork ringing.
     
  3. skimad4x4

    skimad4x4 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

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    Hmm I had a feeling that on the stock clip-ons the bar end "weight" bit was just one part of a system. I think the bar end weight threads onto a rubber mounted damper system fitted inside the clip on. So I am not surprised there was little perceptible difference between the various "weights" assuming the damper mechanism remained installed in the clip on.

    Indeed a while back someone did come up with a complete alternative damping system which entailed replacing both the bar end weight and the damper system. Amusingly it was called something like a vibranator - which one might expect to be stocked in sex shops. Even so I think a few people decided to install them, and reported they worked far better and reduced vibration significantly compared with stock bars.
     
  4. OCLandspeeder

    OCLandspeeder New Member

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    I did not remove the internal vibration dampeners that came stock with the bike. I simply changed out the bar end weights that bolt into them. The Vibranator does the same thing as what the Honda internal mechanism does.

    Anyway, I felt a big difference going from the stock bar end weight to the heavier 12 ounce units from Rhino. I'm thinking an even Extra Heavy ones from HVM that weigh around 16 ounces might work even better (while still using the internal Honda dampeners).
     
  5. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

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    I'm one of those who tried the Vibranator, no not the one from the Hustler back pages. I replaced the bar end weights/vibration dampers with the Vibranator and it really does work. The difference was very noticeable. Too bad they went TU.
     
  6. zombie

    zombie New Member

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    The bar end weight is essentially just a lump of metal with a hole through it right?
    I'm all for reducing vibration but at $90 USD plus shipping to Canada surely I could get a machine shop to make some up at less of a price than that. I actually have a friend who is a machinist, maybe I'll ask him.
     
    skimad4x4 likes this.
  7. JIMLARCH

    JIMLARCH New Member

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    I'd be interested in a set if they work. Keep us posted if you do it and tell us if they work.
     
  8. zombie

    zombie New Member

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    Will do.
     
  9. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

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    If I can get motivated, and you have access to a machinist, and since the company has gone TU, I will try to remember to pull the
    Vibranator and make some measurements and take a picture or tow, and maybe you can have your buddy fab some up. They are
    not just simple weights.
     
  10. pandes

    pandes New Member

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    Loving this thread! sub'd[​IMG]
     
  11. reg71

    reg71 Poser Staff Member

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    I tried the vibrantors also, but I do not recall a huge difference. It could be that so much time has passed I just don't remember, though. I was using them with heli-bars if that makes a difference.
     
  12. OCLandspeeder

    OCLandspeeder New Member

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    The internal Honda vibration dampeners help reduce vibes. I'm pretty sure you have to relocate these to the new Heli-bars.

    During my commute to work I've been swapping with the VFR and the CBR, with the CBR having the OEM rubber grips. The aftermarket Pro Grips I have on my VFR feels A LOT better. Softer to the touch and just a bit larger diameter. I'm sure this also contributes to the smoothness I'm feeling on my VFR800 (in addition to the new heavier bar end weights). Because the CBR600RR is already pretty smooth, but the OEM grips feel thinner and harder (because they are).
     
  13. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    I can confirm that Heli-bars do not have any insert in them, you need to take the ones out of the OEM bars and reuse them. Although I have not tried it, there are post where people have used “buckshot” to fill the bars to help quell vibration. The other is that “expanding” foam that is used in construction. The former I would assume would add a little bit of weight but how much and would it noticeable?
     
  14. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

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    I got a set of Heli-bars and a set of Vibranators for my 2003 back in early 2014. I realized I would have to remove the stock weights an move them to the Heli-bars, which did not look like an easy job. I researched the Vibranators, simply because I couldn’t take there name seriously! They made a decent improvement, It’s too bad they went out of business.
     
  15. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    I think the name was probably their downfall. I’m sure there are not too many men around who want to tell their friends and riding buddies they just bought some “vibranators” for their bike!
     
  16. Brian Rodgers

    Brian Rodgers New Member

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    Old thread, but did anyone with the Vibranators take any pictures/measurements?
    Brian
     
  17. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

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    Actual measurements of the vibranotors? Like how they're made? I have some but I don't know
    how easily they could be removed to measure.
     
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